Tuesday, 12 October 2010

Christmas Table

Well, to my huge excitement I am hosting Christmas Day for my family this year. It is the first time a member of my generation within our family has had Christmas Day. The baton has been passed.

I am getting myself into a bit of a fluster about it as I have my mother and my aunty and my grandmothers to live up to. I have briefly mentioned the concept of gorgeous, sort-of delicious, kind-of groovy sandwiches made with beautiful breads and roast chicken, homemade ham on the bone, roasted capsicum, roasted zucchini, beautiful cheeses, salads, seafood and that sort of a thing. I just want to have something a bit more relaxed and not so full on {even though I am sure preparing all of that will be full on!!}.

The phone calls between my mother and grandmothers and aunties have already started. I am sure they are questioning my ability! Well, I am going to show them that I have it in me to create something just as wonderful as they have done over the past 20, 30, 40 years.

I love the table in the top image. I'm thinking something like this in the garden with big umbrellas {remember our Christmas falls in Summer here}. I love that it looks relaxed and not too staged and themed. I'm not into that sort of thing. I think I will definitely be taking a few of the bowls {bottom picture} home with me which we have for sale at Black & Spiro. I'll be sure to keep you updated with how I go!!

43 comments:

I am hosting xmas for the first time this year too and have also been thinking about table decoration!! I think I'm going to go with a red+white stripe and polkadot theme for something cute.. but still not entirely sure. Look forward to seeing what you do! Leah :)

the bowls are gorgeous! might need to pop in to have a look at those. quiet christmas this year for us...no guests!...to kick the day off it will be a glass of moscato w pastries lightly re-baked from choquette....and the rest is yet to be created in my head.

I'm in awe at your energy Anna!!! A new baby, a new house to decorate and you are doing Christmas dinner?!?! Wow!! I have my head so far under the cushions in denial at the thought of Christmas coming that I'm taking the kids to Japan so we don't have to deal with it. My hat goes off to you.MelindaLily g

I am just starting to think about Christmas now.....my first thought Anna....new dining room chairs! I am meant to be focusing on food and decorations....but they won't look good unless the chairs do...right?? xv

I can't get past the fact that you have such a wonderful extended family to share your Christmas' with.... grandmas! aunties!... I am sure you cherish every moment with them. We, in our little immediate, non extended family, do the relaxed thing too... each Christmas is a lucky dip for us....with any luck, we will be somewhere else this year! Can't wait to see your not too staged, themed table! I need some ideas! ... not blessed with the catering gene over here! A-M xx

Dear Ms Anna, I love the photo with which you started this post. Big gatherings of people around a table speak to all the good things in life: family, friends, food, wine, beauty, laughter, warmth and generosity. There is a lovely song which Tim Minchin wrote about going home for Christmas and having his extended family waiting for him in the sun all drinking white wine and how he and his wife will do the same for their tiny little girl when she grows up and goes away. We are going home to my parent's property outside Queanbeyan NSW for Christmas. My step-grandfather who is 90, my beautiful step-mum, my dad, my sister and her gorgeous children, my children and my mother-in-law will all be there. It will be the full traditional Christmas from mincepies to Christmas pud. I can't wait!!!!

Oh, I love Christmas so much, I would practically wrestle my mom out of the kitchen when it came to some of my favorite dishes! This year I've received a wonderful second family, but it means two Christmases-the first in Dallas with my sweetheart's family and the second in Princeton with my own. I have no idea what will be in store for me, but I wish they were all coming to see us in SF instead!

The blue and green theme you have pictured is so summery - and for me, nothing screams Christmas in Australia more than that shade of pale, summer blue. When the Jacarandas and Agapanthus flower in all their glory, with their fresh early-summer green leaves, it just feels like Christmas and summer holidays are but a whisper away. Blue sky, blue sea water. Your dishes are gorgeous - I bet they are walking out the door.

Anna, you know my Holiday tree's been up since last week- in my view it's never too early to action Christmas arrangements!

Listen to me- a baked ham is definitely your Friend in this situation. As are platters of salady sorts of things. It's easier to produce an abundant look without much effort than you think- I know you can do it.

What are your making for pudding? Do you go pavlova or traditional Christmas pudding?

Thank you for bringing the Christmas spirit. I can almost smell the Christmas tree in my living room. This is my first year as an empty nester single mom, so I go forward with some trepidation. Thanks for giving me so many reasons to believe that life is Absolutely Beautiful! Blessings~

I'm currently planning an autumn table decoration! My mum and sister come to my house for a girl's dinner each season and we decorate the table in all things seasonal complete with printed menu's, napkins etc!

Anna you'll be the perfect host in the most amazing house... I can already kind of picture it. Your big umbrella. I'm loving those plates you have for sale. That tone of green goes magically with the turquoise. Who says Christmas has to be Red & Green... And some driftwood too. Pruxxx

Loving the colours in your pics! Yes, our Christmas falls in summer and it's always so strange how we stick to old-fashioned wintery themes - good on you for going fresh and vibrant. Gorgeous.http://maybrady.blogspot.com/

How exciting for you. We have a huge family Xmas too so I understand the whole having to live up to the older ladies in the family. But I am sure you will put your own wonderful style to it. I hope you enjoy the whole process of planning and preparing:)

I'm hosting Christmas for half the family this year too, I'm so glad. My brother is coming with my three youngest nieces, so we'll have a big and noisy table, exactly what we prefer.I love that picture of the turquoise and patterned plates.SharonMy French Country Home

How funny to think of Christmastime falling in summer! I'm sure you will do a lovely job and your mother and aunties will be patting you on the back! Mr. Armour and I are thinking of sneaking away to Savannah or New Orleans for the holidays though my family may persuade us to stick around California and sing carols on the beach. We shall see...

I established this blog in 2006 so that I could record my inspirations, my thoughts and my work as an Interior Designer. Based in Brisbane, Australia, my store Black & Spiro is always filled with a unique collection of interesting things which we scour the globe to find. I am most passionate about my family, my career, tradition, collecting, flowers, fabric, gardening, colour and quality and I will always strive to be creative and extraordinary in everything I do. I hope I can inspire you to live a bright and colourful life surrounded by the things you love.